St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-02-08
TH SENATE.
It Passes the bill Providing for
NJ odern Ordnance and Coast FOrti.


It Passes the Bill Providing for
Modern Ordnance and Coast Forli.
ficaIiOns.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE credentials
of Francis B. Stockbridge as senator from
Michigan were presented. Resolutions of
the Kansas legislators for the organization
of the territory of Oklahoma We're also pre-
sented and referred to the committee on
territories. Mr.. Plumb presented dupli-
cate of these resolutions. which were in his
opinion in accord with public policy. But,
according to the positions not only of the
executive. but of the attorney general and
practically of congress, there remained in
certain Indian tribes an interest in the lands
sought to be opened to settlement, and be-
fore that difficulty could be re-
moved negotiations of some kind
should take place. He had read
a long opinion on the subject from the sec
retary OF the interior. and stated his con-
cluSion to be that until the president carried
out the provisions of existing law, author
iZing him to enter into such negotiations,
there could be no valid settlement in this
Indian territory. The senate being about
to take up house bills on the calendar Mr..
Hawley moved to proceed to the considera-
tiOn of the bill to encourage the manufac-
ture of steel for modern army ordnance,
armor and other army purposes, and to pro-
vide heavy ordnance adapted to modern
army warfare. He said he had given no.
tice several days ago that he would make
this motion. He was pushed forward to it
by the committee on coast defenses, the
committee on military affairs and the gen.
eral sentiment of the senate, he believed
and of the country he knew. The motion
was agreed to, yeas 81, nays 81, and the
bill was taken up for action. Several
amendments reported by the committee on
coast defenses were agreed to, and after an
explanation on some points of the bill, the
bill was passed without division.
THE BILL IS AS FOLLOWS:
That the secretary of war be and is hereby
authorized TO make contracts with response
BILE steel manufacturers, after suitable adver-
tsements to continue. not less than thirty
days in newspapers most likely to reach the
manufacturers addressed for the supply of
rough-boi ed rOugh-turned and tempered
steel. in forms suitable for heavy ordnance,
adapted TO modern warfare, steel finished, for
armor and other army purposes, in quantity
not to exceed 10000 gross tons, in quality and
dimensions conforming to specifications sub
ject to inspection and tests at each state of
manufacture, aud including all the parts of
each caliber specified; provided. that no
money shall be expended, except for steel ac-
cepted and delivered; that each bidder shall
contract to erect in the United States
n suitable plant, including the best
modern appliances capable of making all the
steel required, and of finishing it, in accord
auce with the contract, and agree in the case
of an ordnance contract, to deliver yearly
specified quantity of each calibre, the time of
delivery OF the smaller calibres to commence
at the expiration of not more than eighteen
months: and that of the largest calibres at
the expiration of not more han three years
from the date of the acceptance of the con-
tract; and that all the forgings shall be manu-
factured in the United States.
That the secretary of war is hereby
authorized to contract for the con-
struction of an arm gun factory at West
Troy in accordance with the report of the
Gun Foundry board of Dec. 20, 1881, for
building the guns adapted to modern war;
fare up to and including the largest ap-
rroved Notifications, and for the manufac-
ture of gun carriage and ordnance equip
ment for the army, at a cost not to exceed
$l,000,O0O
That for the purposes of the foregoing
sections the sum OF SS,000000 is hereby
appropratad out of any money in the treas
a1ry not otherwise appropriated, to be avail
able during six years om Jan. l. 1887.
That for the purpose of the construction
<f Notifications and other works of coast
defense such as masonic and earth
york foundations, classmates and magazines
submurine mines and galleries, exclusive of
amor. in accordance with the recommeuda-
fions of the board on fortifcations or othe r
defenses. appointed by the president of the
JTnited States under the provisions of the act
of congress approved March 3, 1885, So, 600, 600,
40 he expended under the direction of the
+.ecretary of war, is hereby appropriated.
The senate then took up and passed the
t,SIl TO encourage the manufacture of steel
for modern naval ordnance, arm0r, shaft